Connector



ALWiE 6, 1943- Q. F. TALLMAN 2,315,825

CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 1e, 1942 3v www',

Patented Apr. 6, 1943 CONNECTOR Oscar F. Tallman, St. Louis, Mo., assigner to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application February 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,100

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to connecting devices and more specifically to connectors intended for use in mechanically and electrically connecting together electrical conductors, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a connector of this type which is of extremely simple and inexpensive construction and arrangement and which is capable of performing its intended function in a highly eiiicient manner.

In the maintenance and operation of electrical power distribution systems, and other electrical systems, it is frequently necessary to connect to feed or energy supply lines of the systems, electrical conductors which serve as tap-off wires, leads, ground wires, etc. Some years ago such connections were made by soldered joints, and subsequently a connector of the split-bolt type came into rather general use for making such connections, this connector comprising a bifurcated bolt which was arranged in straddling relation with respect to the feed line and the conductor to be connected thereto and which had screwthreadedly associated therewith a nut and washer assembly that was screwed into a position relative to the head of the bolt where it clamped the conductor to the feed line.

The prime purpose of this invention is to provide a connector adapted to perform the function referred to above, which is extremely simple in construction when compared with the connectors of the split bolt type heretofore employed for the purpose, and which is capable of easier and more convenient application to conductors to be connected thereby than were said split bolt connectors, said connector, because of its improved oonstruction and arrangement, serving to apply to the conductors connected thereby continuing spring pressure whereby looseness of the connected conductors due to wear thereof is prevented.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved connector showing same as it appears when connecting a secondary conductor to a main conductor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the connector and conductor assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 but with the secondary conductor shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a. section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig.5 is a plan view of a modied form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the assembly illustrated in Fig. 5 but with the secondary conductor shown in section.

In the drawing, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, two embodiments of the invention, A designates in Figs. 1 to 4. inclusive, one form of the improved connector generally. The connector A is formed from a length of wire, or other suitable material, which is bent double to provide a curved bridge portion l at an end of the connector from which are extended opposed, elongated leg portions 2 and 3, vthe material of which the connector A is formed being characterized by being -highly resilient so that the outer, free end portions of the opposed legs 2 tend to spread apart.

The portions of the legs 2 and 3 ofthe connectorA which are located immediately adjacent to the bridge portion I provide gripping portions 4 and 4 shaped as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 2, said gripping portions being formed by angular portions 5 and 6 of said legs which extend upwardly and forwardly from the opposite sides of the bridge portion I, curved seat portions 'I and Il which are continuations of said angular portions 5 and 6, and downwardly and forwardly extended, angular portions 9 and I0 which join the seat portions 'I and 8 with the forward portions vof the leg portions 2 and 3. At the forward end portion of the leg portion 2 of the connector A a curved portion II is provided which is extended laterally of the connector at a forwardly projected angle, said laterally extended portion terminating in a short, forwardly projected, straight portion I2. In like manner the leg portion 3 of the connector A is provided at its forward portion with a curved portion I3 which extends laterally of the connector at a forwardly projected angle and in the opposite direction to the direction of projection of the laterally extended portion II of the leg portion 2, said laterally extended portion I3 terminating in a short, forwardly projected, straight portion I4. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the leg portion 3 is shorter than the leg portion 2 so as to offset the portions II and I3 of said legs 2 and 3, longitudinally of the connector A.

When it is desired to employ the improved connector A to mechanically connect a secondary conductor to a main conductor, such as the main conductor M and the secondary conductor S shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a portion of the secondary conductor is arranged at a, substantia1 right angle relative to the main conductor. The connector Arwith its leg portions 2 and 3 spread apart is then applied to the main conductor M from beneath same, so that the leg portions of the connector straddle the main conductor and the curved bridge portion l of said connector embraces the lower portion of said main conductor. The connector A is then drawn to a position where it is subtsantially parallel with the main conductor and where the gripping portions 4 and 4 embrace the 'upper portion of the secondary conductor, in which condition the secondary conductor is securely gripped between the seat portions 'l and 8 of the leg portions of the connector and the top surface of the main conductor M. The curved, laterally extended portion I3 of the leg portion 3 of the connector is then moved beneath the main conductor M where it embraces the lower portion of the main conductor and where the straight portion H contacts with an upper, side surface portion of said main conductor, and likewise the curved,

laterally extended portion Il of .the leg portion 2 of the connector is moved beneath the main conductor to a position where it embraces -the lower portion of said main conductor and 'where the straight portion l2 contacts with an upper, surface portion of the mai-n conductor at the opposite side of said main conductor from that with which the straight portion I4 of the leg portion 3 contacts.

When the connector A has been applied to an assembled secondary conductor and main conductor as described, the secondary conductor S of the assembly is forced into close contact with the vmain conductor M thereof and is held inthat position to provide secure mechanical attachment and good electrical connection between said conductors. Also because of the resiliency loi the elongated leg portions 2 and 3 pointpressure, spring contact is applied tothe sec'- cndary conductor and the main conductor which is continuing, and as `a result of this fact 'wear at the contacting surfaces o'f the conductors will not produce a loosening of the connection be vtween the conductors, but instead the continuing spring pressure exerted by the connector will maintain the connected conductors in close contact in spite of such wear. Additionally, the use of the connectors of the type disclosed herein greatly simplies the task of making connections between conductors, because a connection may Vbe made with a few simple hand operations and entirely without the use of tools of fanysort.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a slightly kmodified form of the invention is illustrated. In accordance `with the form of the invention shown in vthese views the elongated leg portions 2 and 3 ofthe connector A have Aformed therein transversely alined eyes 'I' and 8 through which the secondary conductor S is extended. The connector A of Figs. 5 and '6 functions just 'as does the connector A of Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the inner surfaces of 'top portions of the eyes 1' land 8 contacting with upper surface portions of the secondary conductor S', and said secondary conductor being forced into close Contact with the main conductor M by the resiliency -of the com ductor A.

I claim:

l. A connector for electrical conductors comprising a structure formed from a single length of resilient material shaped to provide `a v'curved bridge portion and a pair of opposed elongated leg portions which are extended from said cur-ved bridge portion, curved conductor-engaging portions formed on said elongated leg' portions adjacent to the outer ends thereof and arranged in substantial alinement with said bridge portion when the connector is in its effective conductorconnecting condition, said conductor-engaging portions being inclined at angles extended transversely and longitudinally of the connector, said bridge portion and said conductor-engaging portions of said elongated leg portions being adapted to engage one of a pair of conductors connected by the connector, substantially straight portions extended from said conductor-engaging portions of said elongated leg portions, and conductor-gripping portions comprising curved seats formed on said velongated leg portions and offset from the direction of alinement of said bridge portion and said conductor-engaging portions of said elongated leg portions for engaging the other of a pair of conductors connected by the connector.

2. A connector for electrical conductors comprising a structure formed from a single length of resilient material 'shaped 'to provide `a 'curved bridge portion and 'a pair of opposed elongated leg portions which a-re extended from said curved bridge portion, curved conductor-engaging 'porH tions formed on said elongated leg portions adjae cent to the 'outer ends tliereof and arranged in substantial alinement with said bridge portion when the connector is in its eective conductorconnecting condition, said conductor-engaging portions of said elongated leg portions being inclined in opposite vdirections kat angles extended transversely and longitudinally `of the connector and said bridge portion and said conductor-eng'aging portions of said elongated leg `pori'iions being adapted to engage one of a pair of 'con-ductois connected by the connector, substantially straight 'portions extended from said conductoren'gaging portions of said elongated -leg portions, and conductor-'gripping portions comprising 'curi-ved seats vformed on said elongated ieg .portions and offset from the direction of alineni'e'nt of said bridge portion and said conductor-engaging' portions of said elongated .leg portions -for engaging the other of a pair of conductors -connected by the connector.

3. A .connector lfo'r electrical conductors corn'- prising ia structure formed from a single length of 'resilient material shaped to provide a curved bridge portion and a pair of opposed elongated leg portions which are extended from said curved bridge portion, curved conductor-engaging portions formed on said elongated leg portions adjacent to the outer yends thereof and arranged in substar'itial alinement with said bridge portion when the connector is in its effective 'conductorconnecting condition, said conductor-*engaging Aportions of said elongated leg portions being inclined transversely and longitudinally of the connector and extended in opposite directions and said bridge portion and said conductor=ene gagingportions of said elongated leg portions being adapted to engage -one of a pair of conductors connected Yby the connector, substantially straight portions extended Vfrom said conductorengaging portions of said elongated ileg portions longitudinally of the connector, and conductorgripping portions comprising curved seats .formed on said elongated leg portions and offset from the direction of alineinent of Asaid bridge portion 'and said 'conductor-engaging' portions of said elongated leg portions for engaging the 'other oi' a pair of conductors connected by the' vconnector.

OSCAR F. 

